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CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science P2.3.4 Consequences of thermal energy transfer Exam Style Questions Paper 1

CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science Paper 1 - All Chapters

Question

In which situation is convection the main method of thermal energy transfer?

A. heat from a heater on the floor of a room spreading around the room
B. heat from a hot furnace reaching a factory worker standing beside it
C. heat from the hot end of a metal spoon reaching a cook’s hand holding the other end
D. heat from the Sun reaching a worker in a field

▶️ Answer/Explanation

Convection is the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) due to density changes caused by heating. Warm fluid becomes less dense and rises, while cooler, denser fluid sinks, creating a circulation current.

Looking at each situation:

  • A. A heater on the floor warms the air around it. The warm air rises, and cooler air moves in to take its place, creating a convection current that spreads heat around the room. This is convection.
  • B. Heat from a furnace reaching a worker is mainly by radiation (infrared waves), as it travels through the air without heating the air itself significantly.
  • C. Heat through a metal spoon is transferred by conduction (through the solid metal).
  • D. Heat from the Sun reaches the Earth by radiation through the vacuum of space.

Therefore, convection is the main method of thermal energy transfer in situation A.

✅ Answer: (A)

Question

Which statement about the transfer of thermal energy is correct?

A. Thermal energy transfer by radiation involves mainly ultraviolet radiation.
B. Thermal energy transfer by radiation requires a medium to travel through.
C. The main method of thermal energy transfer through gases is conduction.
D. The main method of thermal energy transfer through liquids is convection.

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Convection is the main method of thermal energy transfer in liquids and gases, where hot fluid rises and cooler fluid sinks due to density changes.
Radiation does not require a medium and involves infrared, not ultraviolet. Gases are poor conductors.
✅ Answer: (D)

Question

How is thermal energy transferred from the Sun through the vacuum of space?

A. by conduction and convection
B. by convection and radiation
C. by convection only
D. by radiation only

▶️ Answer/Explanation
Conduction requires particles in a solid to transfer vibrations, and convection requires the movement of particles in a liquid or gas — neither is possible in the vacuum of space, since there are no particles present.
Thermal radiation, in contrast, consists of electromagnetic waves that do not need a medium and can travel through empty space.
So thermal energy from the Sun reaches the Earth by radiation only.
✅ Answer: (D)

Question 

Which material is a poor thermal conductor?
(A) air
(B) aluminium
(C) copper
(D) iron

▶️Answer/Explanation

Ans: A

Question

The diagram shows a shaped glass tube filled with water. When the water is heated at the point shown, the water begins to move round the tube.

What is the main method of heat transfer that is occurring within the water and in which direction does the water move?

▶️Answer/Explanation

Answer: C

Explanation: The movement of water due to heating is an example of convection, and the direction of movement depends on the setup, which is anticlockwise in this case.

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